Harlow’s hospital has been granted £400k to help prepare for a possible second coronavirus wave in the coming winter months.

The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust (PAHT) will receive an additional £400,000 to boost A&E capacity ahead of winter.

NHS trusts across England will receive £300 million ahead amid fears of a second Covid-19 wave, Boris Johnson has announced.

The Prime Minister said the additional cash would enable hospitals to maintain essential services and reduce the risk of Covid-19 infection.

At PAHT, the extra £400,000 will go towards increasing its A&E capacity, putting enhanced infection prevention and control measures in place and making improvements to emergency care and urgent treatment services.

As of August 10, the trust had recorded a total of 201 deaths of patients suffering from Covid-19 while in its care.

Harlow MP Robert Halfon welcomed the news.

He said: “Staff at our hospital have worked tirelessly over recent months, and our appreciation will never be able to match their work. But, it is still the case that the facilities they work in are not fit-for-purpose. This funding to upgrade our A&E will ensure that we are in the best possible position for the challenges that the winter months may bring.

“At the election, I promised that the NHS would be my top priority and that’s why I've worked so hard to secure a brand new hospital for our town that the government is fast-tracking. I’m also delighted that we will benefit from more nurses, more doctors and record investment.

“I will continue to do all I can to secure even more investment into our NHS locally so that our brilliant NHS staff have the facilities to match their incredible work.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “We continue to deliver on our promise to build back better and faster, with £300 million allocated today for NHS trusts to upgrade their facilities and improve A&E capacity.

“These upgrades will help our fantastic NHS prepare for the winter months, helping them to deliver essential services and reduce the risk of coronavirus infections.

“Thanks to the hard work and tireless efforts of NHS staff throughout the pandemic, our A&Es have remained open for the public.

“It’s vital that those who need emergency treatment this winter access it, and for those who remain concerned about visiting hospitals, let me assure you that the NHS has measures in place to keep people safe.”

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